The Stone Hourglass
by Shepherd Virgo
This story is replacing 'Rod of the Heart Nova.' It will involve the same characters, and the same things will have happened in the first two books.
Disclaimer: I don't own Neopets.
Chapter 4: A Day of United Siblings
Azuldragao, Verderato, and Jadretana and their friends had been gone from their time long enough to not know that Meridell had existed. So, naturally, when they came back from the other time, they were clueless about the excitement of everyone else.
"Coltzan gave us no information on Plesio whatsoever," Kalora frowned. "The only good thing is that were back in our own bodies." Jade and Dr_Death nodded in agreement.
"He did give us his and Osiri's heart novas though," Rash replied. "Couldn't get those these days."
"Yeah, yeah," Azul muttered. "But they'll help a lot in finding Plesio and Aonca."
"Azul's right," Jade said. "What are two Heart Novae gonna matter if they don't do anything?"
Rash looked at them scornfully, and then replied, "Actually, we need one thousand Heart Nova to create the fabled 'Rod of the Heart Nova'. Only one thousand exist. If we hadn't gone back in time, we never would have gotten Coltzan's Heart Nova." Azul glared at her.
"Marrows! Marrow! A dozen for 1000 NP!" a man in a booth yelled, trying to get someone's attention.
"What the hell's a marrow?" Jade asked. She went over to the man. "What's a marrow?"
"The finest veggie in Meridell, ma'am," he replied, smiling proudly.
"Meridell?" she asked curiously. "What's that?"
"You don't know?" the man asked incredulously. "Oh well. It's the newest world from Neopets!" Jade rasied her eyebrows and left the booth.
"Marrows," she told the others, "are from the newest world, Meridell. That doesn't sound like the name of a Jelly World, though."
"I bet it's medieval," Elliot said. "Let's go check it out." And so they set out to this mysterious world, Meridell.
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"Cervinus, we'll never get a hundered thousand kissing Mortogs," Mudeforma the Tonu said, annoyed. "That's disgusting!"
"But it's fun!" Cervinus pleaded. "You've never even tried it! C'mon, Mud, being a scary-lookin' dinosaur means it's your responsibility to do scary-lookin' things!" Mud sighed; they'd gone through this many times.
"Let's go visit Sinsi instead," Mud suggested. Cervinus nodded eagerly.
When they'd almost arrived, Cervinus asked Mud a question. "Do I look okay?" Mud smiled, Cervinus had a huge crush on Sinsi the Ixi.
"You look great. Now, hurry up, you slowpoke. Last one there's a rotten Negg!" And with that, Mudeforma galloped towards the treasure house, Cervinus trying to catch up behind him.
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Before they could arrive, though, they bumped into a small group of people who were seeing the sights. "Ow!" Mud rubbed his horn. "Watch where you're going!
"Sorry," the Shoyru he bumped into apologized. He smiled. "I'm Azuldragao. These are my siblings, Verderato and Jadretana, and my friends, Elliot, Bleue, Allegra and Rash."
"Mudeforma, but call me Mud," the Tonu replied. "This is my friend, Cervinus."
"Sounds like a Quinto-name," Jade muttered to Allegra. They giggled.
"Nice meeting you, Mud and Cervinus," Azul smiled. "Who's your owner?"
"Quinto Pavartez," the Tonu said. Azul gawked. He couldn't believe it. Quinto had gotten another pet? Impossible! This would ruin the whole Ancient scheme. "Yours?"
"Quinto Pavartez," Azul choked out.
"No, seriously, who's your owner?" Mud said skeptically. "I have no siblings."
"I am perfectly serious," Azul replied softly. "And I can't believe Dad wouldn't tell you that you had siblings." Mud ground his teeth.
"Don't call him 'Dad' when he isn't yours," Mudeforma hissed. He lowered his head and-
"Stop it!" Jade exclaimed angrily. She placed herself in between her two brothers. "Is this how you want to treat each other?" Azuldragao and his youngest brother both glared at her. "Maybe Daddy-" Verderato snickered - "didn't tell him! So what? We're still a family!" Azul unclenched his fists reluctantly.
"You're right, Jade. You usually are," Azul said solemnly. Jade smiled in satisfaction.
"Very good. Now, Mud," she turned to her younger brother, "I'm sorry if there's been a misunderstanding. Can you go ask your dad whether you have any siblings? If you do, ask what there like. We'll be looking around." Mud nodded, told Cervinus he could still go see Sinsi, and went back to his home in the Lost Desert.
"Where to go now?" asked Bleue.
"Hmm," Jade thought. Then she saw a sign that sign 'Illusen's Glade'. "This way." She lead them through the forest along a dirt trail.
"Wanna go quicker?" Azul asked. Everyone nodded. "Okay. Switch form. 'Rato, grow more legs and gallop there. Jade, jump into that river and swim there. Allegra, transform into a huge bird and let everyone else board, then fly there." Everyone nodded and followed orders.
When everyone had gotten there, they saw a freckled young Earth Faerie sitting on a stump nearby a small house. Rash's jaw dropped.
"Illusen, is that you?" Rash asked gleefully. The Faerie turned towards her, and smiled; nodded. They ran up to each other and embraced. (A/N: Awwwww!)
"It's good to see you again, Rash," Illusen said solemnly.
"You too," Rash agreed. "Anything happening lately?"
"No, actually," Illusen replied. "Everything's been great."
"Sloth's been bothering us," Rash confided. Illusen raised one eyebrow, then frowned.
"I'll help if you need it. You're not the only faerie Ancient around, you know," Illusen commented. "Should we get Jhudora and Fyora?" Rash nodded. "Sinara too?" Another nod. "Okay, but it won't be pretty." Illusen started glowing brown and green, then became a bird and flew off.
After about an hour of waiting, Illusen arrived. "They refused to come. I quote, 'I'm too busy having people do stuff for me!' Honestly!" Allegra snickered. "Well, what's up?"
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Please applaud my new 'review response' section!
KarmaLeafbarer: Sorry, but the story never was finished. I decided I didn't like the idea.
That may be all for today, but please r/r anyway!